Pakistan assures India to probe ceasefire violation

Pakistan has assured India that it will investigate the ceasefire violation after New Delhi registered a formal protest against Pakistani troops opening fire on Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, an army official said today.

New Delhi: Pakistan has assured India that it will investigate the ceasefire violation after New Delhi registered a formal protest against Pakistani troops opening fire on Indian positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, an army official said today.

In a flag meeting held between India and Pakistan at Tangdhar along the LoC on Wednesday evening, the Indian Army registered its formal protest against the violation of the 2003 ceasefire.

"In yesterday's meeting held between battalion commanders, a formal complaint (verbally) has been given to the Pakistan Army along with photo evidence of bullet marks," the army official said. While denying any violation of the ceasefire, Pakistan Army authorities have 'assured investigation of the matter'.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described the truce violation that occurred when Pakistani troops opened fire in the Tangdhar sector on Tuesday evening as 'worrisome. The incident, however, will not lead to any rescheduling of President Pratibha Patil's visit to the Tangdhar sector May 23, officials said in the Capital.

Senior officers of the two armies spoke on the hotline on Wednesday to resolve the imbroglio. The director general of military operations (DGMO), Lieutenant General A S Sekhon, spoke with his Pakistani counterpart Major General AS Pasha at 3 pm, an Indian Army officer said.

According to the officer, this was the first time that firing along the LoC was being classified as a truce violation. "In the past too, Pakistani troops have opened fire in support of infiltrators who were trying to sneak across. The fire was returned from our side. This time, there was no infiltration involved and our troops did not return fire. Therefore, we have classified it as a truce violation. We hope this will not recur," the officer said.

The DGMOs normally speak on the hotline once a week on Tuesdays. Indian Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel A K Mathur said in Srinagar, "Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked firing on our posts. They fired scores of rounds. However, we did not retaliate." There were no casualties on the Indian side. (IANS)

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